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Imagine A Day Without Water
2023 Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest & Campaign
We are excited to announce our 9th annual Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest this Fall!
Art Contest Theme: Tell us your action to save water!
Important Dates:
- Accepting Art Entries: October 16th - November 13th (5:00pm ET)
- National Imagine a Day without Water Day: October 19th
- Fan Favorite Voting: November 27th - December 6th (5:00pm ET)
- Winners Announced: December 13th
Important Links:
Could you go a day without water? No water to drink or use to make food. No water to shower, flush the toilet, or brush your teeth. Firefighters couldn’t put out fires, pools would be closed, and farmers couldn’t water their crops.
We are excited to announce that the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County Service Authority, and Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority are holding their 9th annual Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest. Each year, we ask youth to show us why we must value and save water in our community. This year’s art contest continues to allow for flexibility to ensure our entire community can participate in our contest and provide an opportunity for the youth in our community to learn and illustrate the importance of water.
The 2023 Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest asks youth to consider this year’s theme to “Tell us Your Action to Save Water” in their artistic creations. Art submissions will be accepted starting on October 16th in anticipation for the National Imagine a Day Without Water day on October 19th. The contest will be open to all youth in grades K – 12th living in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Submissions must be original, 2-D creations but can be any size and may include photography.
All Imagine a Day without Water art entries must be submitted by November 13th. Submissions will be accepted with the official entry form (PDF) via direct mail to the Charlottesville’s Department of Public Works (305 4th St. NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903) or electronically through our submission and online voting platform. In addition, there is an opportunity to drop off entries in-person with the official entry form (PDF) at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library’s Central, Northside, and Crozet Branches during their normal hours of service.
2022’s contest was a huge success bringing in 248 entries, and we are excited for increased participation this year. This year there will be cash prizes awarded to the finalists in different age categories and a fan favorite will be selected by the community (online voting available November 27th through December 6th on the digital submission site (LINK)). Winners will be announced via press release on December 13th. Four teachers will also be honored for their support of the contest and campaign through a random drawing and the teacher that had the most students that participated.
We are excited to see the youth’s creativity and tell us their actions to save water!
You can learn more about the Value of Water Coalition and the National Imagine a Day without Water Campaign on their website.
2023 Theme: "Tell us Your Action to Save Water"
Important Dates:
Accepting Art Entries: October 16th - November 13th 5:00 PM
Fan Favorite Voting: November 27th - December 6th, 5:00 PM (LINK)
Winners Announced: December 13th- afternoon
Media Types Accepted:
- Multiple submissions are allowed! Make sure you convey the contest theme: "Tell us Your Action to Save Water".
- Entries must be the work of one individual youth, no collaborations.
- Any original 2-dimentional artwork or photography.
- Artwork can be any size and made with any type of medium.
- Suggested sizes for drawings: 11" x 8.5" (horizontal)
- Suggested sizes for photography: 4:3 ratio (horizonal)
How to Submit your Media?
- Digital Submission Option: Available starting October 16th - November 13th 5:00 PM ET
- Submit media using our Art Contest Platform Uploader Form. Files must be JPEG/JPG, PNG, or GIF image file types.
- Note: You can scan or take a picture of your entry; however, please note this could impact the quality of your entry. When taking a picture of the art entry, please do not include a person in the picture. It is best to take a picture of the art against a contrasting, flat, one colored surface as straight on as possible.
- Mail Option: Entries must be postmarked by November 13th. Official Entry Form (PDF) must be attached to each entry.
Water Conservation
Department of Public Works
305 4th Street NW
Charlottesville, VA 22903
- In Person: ONLY AVAILABLE JMRL Central, Northside, and Crozet Branch Libraries during their hours of service by November 13th. Official Entry Form (PDF) must be attached to each entry.
- Check their website for most up-to date hours of service.
Online Submission and Online Voting Website (Link)
Art Contest Flyer & Submission Form (PDF)
Art Contest Poster (PDF)
Contest Prizes
$200 Gift Card and Water Conservation Goodie Bags!
Youth Prizes
- K - 2nd Grade Top Entry
- 3rd - 4th Grade Top Entry
- 5th - 6th Grade Top Entry
- 7th - 8th Grade Top Entry
- 9th - 12th Grade Top Entry
- Fan Favorite (Voting Online from November 27th - December 6th)
Teacher Prizes
Teachers that have their students participate with be eligible for prize. The more students that participate will increase the odds of the teacher winning!
- Most classroom submissions
- A random winner each from a CCS, ACPS, and a private school or organization
Previous Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest Winners
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2022 5th – 6th Grade Winner: Olivia Rice
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2019 7th – 8th Grade Winner Emily Zhu
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2020 5th – 6th Grade Winner Ruby Reed Guy-Wolnick
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2018 3rd – 4th Grade Winner Rowan Powell
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2019 1st – 2nd Grade Winner Lucy Sutton
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2022 K – 2nd Grade Winner: Merrick Meslar
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2022 Fan Favorite Winner: Kush Jani
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2016 7th – 8th Grade Winner Marco Lopez
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2016 1st – 2nd Grade Winner Sarah Ni
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2021 3rd – 4th Grade Winner Ruby Buchanan
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2022 9th – 12th Grade Winner: Shoukufeh Alizada
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2017 5th – 6th Grade Winner Annie Meng
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2018 5th – 6th Grade Winner Jamie Kwon
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2020 3rd – 4th Grade Winner Claudia Van Clief
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2016 5th – 6th Grade Winner Olivia Kim
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2018 7th and 8th Grade Winner Bryce Yates
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2021 7th – 8th Grade Winner Jane Friesen
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2016 3rd – 4th Grade Winner Jingyi Li
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2017 3rd – 4th Grade Winner Sophie Rubin
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2018 1st – 2nd Grade winner Ben O’Hare
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2018 Fan Favorite: Manan Jani, Agnor Hurt Elementary, Grade 5
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2015 7th – 8th Grade Winner Esther Juwon Lee
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2022 3rd – 4th Grade Winner: Zaina Ornan
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2020 Fan Favorite Winner Vivian Foutz
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2022 7th – 8th Grade Winner: Seamus Brown
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2021 5th – 6th Grade Winner Nora Neathery
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2015 5th – 6th Grade Winner Phoebe V. Rebhorn
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2019 Fan Favorite Winner Manan Jani
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2020 1st – 2nd Grade Winner Ruihan (Jennifer) Xue
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2017 Fan Favorite Winner Elisabeth Shin
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2019 3rd – 4th Grade Winner Timothy Choo
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2021 9th – 12th Grade Winner Isabella Sorrentio
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2015 3rd – 4th Grade Winner Reese Coggeshall
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2019 5th – 6th Grade Winner Beatrice Mitchell
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2015 1st – 2nd Grade Winner Harper Jewel Ullrich
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2020 7th – 8th Grade Winner Shoukufeh Alizada
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2021 K – 2nd Grade Winner Grant Smith
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2017 7th – 8th Grade Winner Savannah Gale
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2017 1st – 2nd Grade Winner Nathan Jordan
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2015 Fan Favorite Winner Krishabh Ban
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2021 Fan Favorite Winner Leilani Durrette
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2016 Fan Favorite Winner ShiLu DeBerry